The words say:
In the context of Cheng Wuyue, how can he resist the clever words of espionage? Sending warmth while stealing cold for no reason, Meng Ke's moving lips and tongue. The crystal ball can't stop being picky, and the hoe is always held in a particular manner.
- Right adjustment "Chuan Bozhao"
Han Daoguo went home and found that his wife and brother Han Er were not at home; they had all gone to the shop. He hurried to the shop to discuss with Lai Bao. Lai Bao said, "You quickly go and ask your second uncle Ying Baojue to talk to Mr. Li in the county, write a note, and solve any big problem." Han Daoguo immediately went to find Ying Baojue. Baojue's wife sent a maid to say, "Baojue is not at home; I don't know where he went. Maybe he went to Master Ximen's house." Han Daoguo said, "He is not at Ximen Qing's place." He also asked Ying Baojue's son Ying Bao, who had also gone out. Han Daoguo was anxious and went to the brothel to find him. It turned out that Baojue was invited by He Manzi's brother from Huzhou, He Ermanzi (also known as He Liangfeng), to drink at He Jinchanger's home in Sitiangang. Han Daoguo found him and brought him outside. Baojue's face was red from drinking, with a toothpick stuck in his hat. Han Daoguo saluted him, took him to a secluded place, and explained everything in detail. Baojue said, "I need to handle this!" So he said goodbye to He Liangfeng, went home with Han Daoguo, and got to the bottom of the issue.
Han Daoguo hurriedly pleaded with him, "This matter is likely to be sent to the county yamen tomorrow. I hope Uncle Er can go to the government office to get a note for Master Li, asking him to prevent my wife from having to see the officials. Once this is settled, I'll make sure to thank Uncle Er generously!" As he spoke, he knelt down. The Count helped him up and said, "Nephew, why wouldn't I help you with this small matter? Hurry up and write a note; don’t waste time on those trivial matters, just say that you are often not at home, and the neighbors' hoodlums always come to smash things and bully your wife. Your brother Han Er couldn't take it anymore, so he argued with them and ended up being caught and beaten, and now he's tied up in the shop. I hope the authorities will issue a note to Master Li, asking him not to let your wife see the officials, and that will be the end of it." Han Daoguo quickly wrote a note and put it in his pocket.
The Count took Han Daoguo to the gate of Ximen Qing's house and asked the gatekeeper, Ping An, "Is the master at home?" Ping An said, "The master is in the garden study. Second Master and Uncle Han, please come in." The Count was quite familiar with Ximen Qing, so he entered through the ceremonial gate with Han Daoguo, crossed the hall, entered the garden corner gate like a deer darting through the woods, passed through the fragrant wooden pergola, and arrived at three small curved pergolas, called Feicui Xuan, where Ximen Qing would relax during the summer. The curtains were drawn, surrounded by flowers and bamboo, featuring one bright room and two dimly lit ones. A painting boy and a few servants were sweeping the floor, announcing, "Second Master Ying and Uncle Han are here!" The two opened the curtains and entered.
Upon entering the Ming room, the young scholar said, "Please sit down, the master has just gone to the back." At the same time, he sent the painter to invite him. The painter ran to Li Ping'er's room and asked, "Is the master here?" Chunmei scolded, "You little rascal! The master is in the next room, why did you come here to ask?" The painter ran to Xiu Chun and asked quietly, "Is the master in the room? Master Ying and Uncle Han have arrived, waiting for the master in the study." Xiu Chun said, "The master is in the room, watching Madam and the young master cut fabric." Originally, Ximen Qing brought out a bolt of bright red silk and a bolt of parrot-green silk, having Li Ping'er make sweaters, coats, vests, and other garments for the official's son. The kang was covered with a large red felt, the nurse was cradling the baby, and Ying Chun was holding the iron. Xiu Chun came in, quietly tugged at Ying Chun, and Ying Chun said, "Why are you pulling me? You’ll scorch the felt!" Li Ping'er asked, "Why did you pull her out of the blue?" Xiu Chun said, "The painter said Master Ying has arrived and asked to speak with the master." Li Ping'er said, "You little rascal, if Master Ying has come, just say it directly—why drag her into this?"
Ximen Qing said to the painter, "Please have a seat, my esteemed elders, I'll be right there." After finishing the tailoring, Ximen Qing came out and saw the count and Han Daoguo in the study. He bowed and sat down, while Han Daoguo stood beside him. After having tea, the count said, "Brother Han, if you have something to say, go ahead and speak to the master here." Ximen Qing said, "If you have something to say, just say it." Han Daoguo was about to say, "There are a few unknown ruffians in the neighborhood..." when he was interrupted by Count Ying, who said, "Nephew, don't say it like that. Putting it that way is too embarrassing. Just speak directly to the master: Brother Han often stays in the shop, and there’s no one at home except for his wife and children. A few unsavory characters in the neighborhood see that no one is home and keep causing trouble and bullying them. His brother Han Er couldn’t stand it, had a few words with them, and ended up getting beaten by those ruffians. Now he’s tied up at the shop and will be sent to Lord Li tomorrow. He cried and begged me to come and talk to you, to get a note for Lord Li, asking him to be lenient. His brother is the same; as long as his wife doesn’t see the authorities, it will be fine." The count said, "Take out the note for the master to see, and I’ll have someone help you." Han Daoguo took out the note from his sleeve, knelt down, and said, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, my lord, and I sincerely ask you to help, for my uncle’s sake. Our whole family will be eternally grateful!" Ximen Qing pulled him up and said, "Please rise." After looking at the note, which read: "Offender Wang, requesting exemption from punishment," Ximen Qing said, "This note should not be written like this! Just write it for your brother Han Er alone." He then said to the count, "I’ll take this note to the county; it’s better to directly instruct the local authorities to change the report and bring it to my office for review tomorrow." The count said, "Brother Han, you should thank your benefactor. This is even better!" Han Daoguo bowed again. Ximen Qing called for Dai An, saying, "Quickly call a squad leader over." After a while, a sergeant dressed in blue came and served nearby. Ximen Qing called him over and instructed, "Go to the residence of the shopkeeper Han on Niupi Street, find out which shop it is, and tell the local authorities that it’s my order to release Wang. Find out the names of those ruffians, change the report, and bring it to the court tomorrow morning for me to hear." The sergeant agreed and left. The count said, "Brother Han, you follow him and handle your affairs. I still have to talk to the master." Han Daoguo expressed his gratitude profusely as he departed, going with the sergeant to Niupi Street.
Ximen Qing and the Count sat down in the Emerald Pavilion and asked Dai An to tell his mother to open the lotus wine with osmanthus sent by Eunuch Liu, for us to drink, and to steam the pickled shad fish. The Count said, "I haven't thanked you yet for the two crucian carp you sent me yesterday. I gave one to my eldest brother, and with the remaining one, I had it cut by my family, gave a piece to my daughter, cut the rest into small pieces, marinated them in the original red lees, added some sesame oil, put them in a porcelain jar, I eat it in the morning and at night, or when guests come, I steam a plate to treat them, so as not to disappoint your kindness." Ximen Qing continued, "Liu Eunuch's brother, Liu Baihu, manages the reed field downstream, made some money, bought a manor in Wuli Store, built a house with good wood, but was discovered by the officials in the yamen, who wanted to arrest him. Xia Longxi said he should be fined one hundred taels of silver and reported to the province. Liu Eunuch was in a hurry, personally brought a hundred taels of silver to ask for my help. Honestly, my family doesn't lack this money, and Liu Eunuch often gives me gifts. I couldn't reject him this time, so I didn't take his money, just let him dismantle the house overnight. In the yamen, I only gave his family member Liu San twenty strokes, and then released him. Afterwards, Liu Eunuch was very grateful; he sent me a jar of homemade lotus wine, two bags of pickled shad fish weighing forty pounds, and two pieces of embroidered golden satin, personally came to thank me. It’s a mutual favor that strengthens our relationship." The Count said, "Brother, you are not short of money! Lord Xia comes from a military background; how can he live without extra income? Since you took office, have you helped him with a few things?" Ximen Qing said, "I have helped him with a few official matters, but apart from that, he is insatiable, unreasonable in handling cases; as long as he receives money, he releases the person, what kind of system is that! At that time, I advised him, 'Although we are military officials, in charge of criminal law, we also need to pay attention to decency.'" Just as he was finishing his sentence, the food and wine arrived. Ximen Qing poured lotus wine for the Count into a small golden chrysanthemum cup.
The two of them ate and chatted, and time passed quickly. Regarding those who were arrested, Wang Shi was sent home, while the headman was taken into custody. They checked everyone's names, and those arrested were to be sent to the magistrate's court for questioning the next morning. Everyone exchanged glances, realizing that Han Daoguo was Ximen Qing's accomplice. This was serious trouble, with only Han Er left in the shop. Everyone sensed that things had gone awry. Han Daoguo slipped those people five silver coins, and they hurriedly reported several names to Ximen Qing, waiting to be taken in the next day.
The next day, Ximen Qing and Xia Tiexing were conducting a trial in the yamen. The village head brought in the accused, the first was Han Er, kneeling on the ground. Xia Tiexing first examined the case file: "Xiao Cheng, the head of the four shops on Niupi Street, was disturbed in the area..." The first was Han Er, the second Che Dan, the third Guan Shikuan, the fourth You Shou, and the fifth Hao Xian. All were called by name. Then Han Er was asked, "Why were you arrested?" Han Er said, "I’m a businessman who is often away from home, with only my wife and children at home. A few local ruffians bullied them, singing and dancing at the door, throwing bricks at night, causing all sorts of trouble. I live elsewhere and came home to check on them, couldn't bear it, so I scolded them. But they ignored me, knocked me down, and brought me here. I hope the master will investigate." Xia Tiexing asked, "What did they say?" Those people said together, "Master, don't believe his nonsense! He is a gambler! His brother is not at home, and he is having an affair with his sister-in-law Wang. Wang is usually arrogant and domineering, bullying the neighborhood. Yesterday we caught them; there is evidence!" Xia Tiexing turned to the village head, Xiao Cheng, "Where is Wang?" Xiao Cheng hesitated to let her go, just saying, "Wang has a sore foot and can't walk, so she didn't come." Han Er kept looking at Ximen Qing. After a while, Ximen Qing said to Xia Tiexing, "Sir, there is no need to find Wang. Wang might be attractive, but those ruffians couldn’t charm her, so they set up this trap." Then he asked the leader Che Dan to come forward and asked, "Where did you catch Han Er?" Everyone said, "We caught him in his house yesterday." Then asked Han Er, "Who is Wang to you?" The village head said, "She is his sister-in-law." Then asked the village head, "How did those people get into his house?" The village head said, "They climbed over the wall." Ximen Qing erupted in anger, shouting, "You rascals! He is a younger brother, and Wang is also his relative. Can't they visit each other? Who are you people, daring to climb over the wall? The man of the house is not there, and there are children in the house. It's either adultery or theft!" He ordered the guards to bring the sticks, twenty lashes each, leaving their skin raw and bloodied. Those young men, unaccustomed to punishment, cried and wailed loudly. Ximen Qing didn't wait for Xia Tiexing to speak and ordered, "Release Han Er. Detain the other four, and question them again in a few days." The four were locked up in the prison, blaming each other, all feeling afraid. The other prisoners scared them, "If you are questioned, you will either go to prison or lose your life!" They panicked, quickly had their families send food and letters, asking their families to grease some palms. Some sought Xia Tiexing’s help, but Xia Tiexing said, "Wang's husband is your master Ximen's associate; he insists on pressing charges, and I can’t intervene; you’ll have to sort it out on your own." Some also wanted to ask Wu Dajiu for help. Everyone knew that Ximen Qing was rich and didn't dare to easily bribe him.
The heads of the four families were all anxious, so they gathered together to discuss. One of them said, "Stop begging Wu Qianhu, it's useless. I heard that Brother Ying, who runs a silk shop on East Street, has a good relationship with Ximen Qing. We might as well pool some money, give him a little something, and let him intercede for us; it will definitely work." So, Che Laoer took the lead, each person took out ten taels of silver, a total of forty taels, and they went to visit Ying Bojue's house together to ask for his help in speaking to Ximen Qing. Bojue took the money and sent them away. His wife said, "Since you are helping Uncle Han with his affairs and managing these people, why did you take the money and help them speak up instead? Aren't you afraid that Uncle Han will be angry?" Bojue said, "I know what I'm doing; I have a plan." He exchanged the forty taels of silver for fifteen taels, slipped them into his sleeve, and went to Ximen Qing's house. Ximen Qing still hadn't returned. Bojue entered the hall and saw Ximen Qing's young servant coming out of the study, wearing a corrugated hat, a golden hairpin, a silk straight robe from Suzhou, a jade-colored gauze robe, sandals, and clean socks, dressed to impress. The young servant said, "Uncle Ying, please have a seat inside." He instructed the other servant to pour tea and scolded him, "You little brat, I told you to go pour tea for Uncle Ying; why are you dawdling? Wait until the master comes back, I'll make sure to deal with you!" Only then did the servant go to pour tea. Bojue asked, "Has your master come back yet?" The young servant said, "He just said the yamen had dispersed, and he was meeting guests outside with Mr. Xia. What does Uncle Ying want?" Bojue said, "It's nothing." The young servant said, "Regarding Uncle Han's matter a few days ago, the master arrested those people at the yamen yesterday, and he will be interrogating them tomorrow." Bojue pulled the young servant to a secluded place and whispered, "There is another matter now; the families of those people came to my house crying and begging me to speak to your father. I've already put in a word for Uncle Han, so I can't get involved in this again; I'm afraid he will be angry. However, the four families pooled fifteen taels of silver; could you find a way to talk to your dad and see if he can let them go?" Saying this, Bojue took out the silver from his sleeve and gave it to the young servant.
The servant opened the box and saw four silver ingots and four pieces of silver coins. He said, "Since this is for Uncle Er's sake, if you could give me another five taels, I can help you see if it can be done, though there's no guarantee. Yesterday, Uncle Wu personally came to speak with the master, and the master didn't agree. I'm a bit shy, so I'll tell you the truth: I can't use all this money alone; I need to give some to my elder brother's sixth sister to help persuade them; otherwise, this matter won't get done." The count said, "Alright, I'll talk to him again. You must do your best to help them; they will come back to ask in the afternoon." The servant said, "I don’t know when my father will be back; you should tell them to come back tomorrow morning." After the count finished speaking, he left.
The servant returned to the shop, set aside one tael and five cash, and bought some food and drink: a jar of Jinhua wine, two roasted ducks, two chickens, some fresh fish, a pig's trotter, flaky pastries, and rolled rice cakes, and sent them over to Lai Xing'er’s house, asking Lai Xing'er’s wife, Huixiu, to help arrange them. That day, Pan Jinlian was not home; she had taken a sedan chair early in the morning to her grandmother's house for her birthday. The servant had the young man first deliver the food to Li Ping'er’s room, and then he brought in a jar of Jinhua wine. Li Ping'er asked, "Where did this come from?" The young man said, "It's a gift from the servant." Li Ping'er laughed and said, "This little guy! How is he honoring me?" After a while, the servant came in and saw Li Ping'er playing with a cat on the kang, and he asked, "Who are you sending all this food to?" The servant just smiled and stayed silent. Li Ping'er said, "If you don't speak, what does your smile mean?" The servant replied, "If I’m not honoring you, who else would I?" Li Ping'er said, "Why are you sending all this for no reason? If you don’t explain, I’m not eating."
The servant boy opened the wine, arranged the dishes, asked Yingchun to bring a silver sieve, poured the wine, knelt down and said, "Madam, please go ahead and eat first, I will speak to you later." Mrs. Li said, "What is it? Speak first, and I'll eat later. If you don't speak, I won't eat even if you kneel for a hundred years if you have to." She then said, "Get up and speak." The servant boy then recounted the matter that Count Ying had asked him to help with from beginning to end: "He had already spoken on behalf of Uncle Han, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to speak again, that's why he asked me to do it. If the master asks, don't say it was me who said it, just say it was someone sent by Uncle Hua's side. I wrote a note in the study saying it was given to me by you for the master to see. You can also say a few good words. Besides, the master already dealt with them yesterday, and if he lets them go for any reason, it would be a good deed." Mrs. Li laughed and said, "So that's the matter! It's fine, I'll talk to your father when he returns. Why did you bring all these things for nothing?" She then asked, "You must have received some benefits from them, right?" The servant boy said, "To be honest with you, they gave me five taels of silver." Mrs. Li said, "You really know how to make money!" She then drank two small cups of wine and poured a cup for the boy as well. The boy said, "I can't drink, my face will turn red, I'm afraid the master will notice." Mrs. Li said, "I'm telling you to drink, what are you scared of!" The boy thanked her and drank it all in one go. Mrs. Li served him some food. The boy stayed with her and downed two big cups of wine, then left before his face turned red. Back in the shop, there were still some treats left, which he placed on the counter. He then brought out two more jars of wine and invited Fu the shopkeeper, Ben Si, Chen Jingji, Lai Xing'er, and Dai An'er to join him. They all dug in and totally forgot to save any for Ping An'er.
That kid Ping An sat by the gate with a sullen expression. He didn't expect Ximen Qing to come home after his social engagements in the afternoon; when Ping An saw him, he remained silent. The scholar boy heard Ximen Qing's voice coming back and hurriedly rushed to tidy things up, taking two steps at a time to the hall to take Ximen Qing's clothes. Ximen Qing asked, "Did anyone come today?" The scholar boy replied, "No one." Ximen Qing took off his clothes, removed his hat, put on a headscarf, and sat down in the study. The scholar boy quickly poured him a cup of tea, but Ximen Qing took a sip and set it down. He noticed the scholar boy's flushed face and asked, "Did you go drink?" The scholar boy took out a note from under the inkstone on the table and showed it to Ximen Qing, saying, "This is from Liu Niang in the back courtyard, asking me to fetch it from her room. She said it was from Uncle Hua and is about the case of the prisoner Che Dan. Liu Niang asked me to keep it for you to see. She even rewarded me with a cup of wine, which is why my face is red." Ximen Qing took the note and saw it said, "The prisoner Che Dan and three others request clemency." After reading it, he passed the note back to the scholar boy and instructed, "Put it in my writing box and have the one who promised report to the yamen for me tomorrow." The scholar boy took the note and placed it in the writing box, then stood by to attend to him. Ximen Qing saw that he had drunk wine, his face was flushed, his lips were rosy, and his white teeth showed, making him increasingly attracted to him. Thus, overcome by desire, he embraced the scholar boy and kissed him. The young scholar boy's mouth still carried the fragrance of osmanthus cakes, and he smelled delightful. Ximen Qing lifted his clothes, pulled down his pants, gently caressed his backside, and cautioned, "Drink less wine; watch out not to mess up your looks." The scholar boy replied, "Father, I know." The two of them then got busy with each other in the room.
Suddenly, a man in a green robe rode a horse to the gate, dismounted, and bowed to the gatekeeper, asking, "Excuse me, is this the home of the magistrate Ximen Qing?" The gatekeeper was angry that the servant boy hadn’t offered him a drink, so he ignored him for a while. The man continued standing there and said, "I was sent by Master Zhou from the Shuai Mansion to deliver a letter to Master Ximen. Tomorrow, Master Xupingzhai is sending off guests at Yongfu Temple with a banquet. Master Jing, Master Xia, and Master Zhang from the camp will all attend, each contributing one or two silver coins. I’m here to notify you, so please relay the message, and I’ll wait for your reply." The gatekeeper then took the letter, went inside to find out if Ximen Qing was in the garden study. He walked around the pine tree wall and saw the boy sitting on the steps outside the window. When the boy saw the gatekeeper, he waved. Knowing what Ximen Qing and the boy were up to inside, the gatekeeper quietly listened by the window. After a while, he heard gasping and the creaking of the bed from inside. Ximen Qing shouted, "My child, keep still, don't move!" Then it became quiet. The boy came out to bring Ximen Qing water to wash his hands, saw the gatekeeper and the boy standing below the window, blushed, and quickly left. The gatekeeper took the letter inside, Ximen Qing read it, wrote a response, and instructed, "Go to the backyard and ask the second mistress for one or two silver coins, have your brother-in-law seal it up properly and deliver it to him." The gatekeeper agreed and left.
The young servant brought water, and after Ximen Qing washed his hands, he returned to Li Ping'er’s room. Li Ping'er asked, "Have you been drinking? Let the maid pour you some wine." Ximen Qing saw a jar of Jinhua wine under the table and asked, "Where did this come from?" Li Ping'er, not wanting to say it was bought by the young servant, replied, "I suddenly felt like having a drink, so I had the servant go buy a jar from the street. I've only had a couple of cups and then I lost my appetite for it." Ximen Qing said, "Oh, there's wine here, and you spent money to buy it! A few days ago, I got forty jars of Heqing wine on credit from Ding Manzi in the west wing. If you want to drink, let the servant take the key to get it." Li Ping'er hadn't even touched the roast duck, chicken, or fresh fish she had earlier. She asked Yingchun to add four more small dishes, sliced a plate of smoked meat, and set it on the table to accompany Ximen Qing's drinking. Ximen Qing did not even ask where these dishes came from, showing that he was used to having such things at home every day. While drinking, Ximen Qing recalled what had just happened and asked Li Ping'er, "Was that note the young servant brought just now from you?" Li Ping'er said, "It was sent by the flower uncle outside, asking you to spare that group of people." Ximen Qing said, "A few days ago, Uncle Wu came to plead for them, and I didn't agree. If it weren't for his plea, I would definitely give those rascals a severe punishment. Since it was his plea, I’ll go to the yamen tomorrow and give each of them a good thrashing before letting them go." Li Ping'er said, "Why beat them? What if they lose their teeth? How would that look for you?" Ximen Qing said, "The yamen is like this; I don't care if they lose their teeth or not. There are plenty of people who are more delicate than them." Li Ping'er said, "Brother, as a magistrate, you should try to make things easier for others in your official duties; that’s also accumulating virtue. Other things aren't important; just focus on accumulating some virtue." Ximen Qing said, "What do you mean by that!" Li Ping'er said, "You should hit fewer people tomorrow; be more lenient. There are opportunities to accumulate virtue everywhere." Ximen Qing said, "There's no helping it when it comes to public affairs."
Two people were drinking when Chunmei lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing Ximen Qing and Li Ping'er drinking with their legs next to each other, she said, "You two are really having a good time! Why aren’t you sending someone to escort your mother home at this hour? Just let An follow the sedan, walking through the streets and alleys; what if it gets late? You should be more at ease!" Ximen Qing noticed her messy hair and smiled, "Little one, I guess you just woke up." Li Ping'er said, "Your handkerchief fell off your head; why don't you fix it?" Then she poured wine for him, "This Jinhuajiu is delicious; have a drink." Ximen Qing said, "You drink; I’ll have Yingchun send someone to escort your mother." Chunmei leaned on the table with one hand and said, "I just woke up; I’m not really in the mood." Ximen Qing said, "Look, little one has such a low drinking tolerance!" Li Ping'er said, "Since your mother is not at home, what’s there to be afraid of having a drink?" Chunmei replied, "Sixth Sister, you go ahead and drink; I didn’t want to drink in the first place. Whether my mother is at home or not doesn’t matter. Even if she tells me to drink, I still won’t." Ximen Qing said, "If you don’t drink, have some tea. I’ll have Yingchun send someone to escort your mother." He handed her a cup of brewed magnolia and sesame tea. Chunmei took a token sip and put it down, saying, "Don't let Yingchun go; I’ve got Ping'an waiting here; he’s more reliable." Ximen Qing called Ping'an through the window. The servant replied, "I’m here waiting." Ximen Qing said, "You go escort her; who will watch the front door?" Ping'an said, "I had Qitong watch the door." Ximen Qing said, "I see; hurry and grab a lantern to see her off."
Ping An carried a lantern to come get Pan Jinlian. On the way, he saw Lai An following the sedan chair from the south. It was carried by Zhang Chuan and Wei Cong. They approached and held the sedan pole, saying, "I’m here to pick you up!" Jinlian asked Ping An, "Did your father ask you to come get me? Who told you to come?" Ping An said, "My father asked me to come get you, but it was my sister who urged me to come." Jinlian said, "Your father probably hasn't come back from the yamen yet, has he?" Ping An replied, "Not back yet? He went out visiting, but he’ll be back this afternoon. He’s having drinks at Liu Niang's place! If my sister hadn't urged me to grab a lantern and come get you, I would still be early! I saw Lai An following the sedan chair; he’s just a kid, and I was afraid he would have a hard time on the way if he came late, so I came." Jinlian asked again, "Where was your dad when you got here?" Ping An said, "When I got here, my dad was still having drinks at Liu Niang's place. My sister asked him before letting me come." Jinlian didn’t speak for a long time in the sedan chair, and then coldly scolded, "This scoundrel thinks I’m dead! Still lounging around in that brothel! Tomorrow, he’ll be too busy spoiling that little brat; don’t let it delay important matters! Zhang Chuan, listen, there’s no one else. Your family is wealthy, there are people everywhere, where did that little kid who just wet his pants come from, that you give him silk and satin? Even if your family is rich, you can’t afford all that fancy stuff!"
Zhang Chuan said, "If you don't say it, I won't dare to say it either. It's really difficult to bring up. It's a pity not to say it. I'm afraid of spoiling him. The measles haven't come out yet, and the big child who has been so hard to raise. Last year, in a wealthy family outside the east gate, the old master was sixty years old. The ancestors had accumulated a lot of family assets, countless money and horses, a large number of maids and concubines, and there were seventeen or eighteen lower servants in robes. But no matter what they did, they couldn't have a son. They burned incense and worshiped Buddha in the east temple and west temple, prayed to gods and Buddhas, but they couldn't get what they wanted! To everyone's surprise, his seventh concubine finally gave birth to a son, and he was overjoyed. Just like in our family, he was treated like a precious gem, dressed in fine clothes and given the best food. Three beautiful houses were specially built for him, and four or five wet nurses were hired to take care of him. He was doted on every day, but tragically, he died of measles before he turned three. Don't blame me for being blunt; it's better to raise a child roughly." Jinlian said, "Roughly? I wish I could wrap him in gold all day!" Ping'an said, "I have one more thing to tell my mother. If I don't say it, my mother will know tomorrow and say that I'm not good. It's about those people that Han Huojiang mentioned. They were all arrested by my father at the yamen and put in prison to be interrogated. This morning, Ying'er came to talk to Shu Tong, and it's estimated that he received a few taels of silver, took a big package to the shop, and privately used two or three taels. He bought a lot of things to cook, went to Lai Xing's house, let his wife cook, brought it to Liu Niang's room, bought two bottles of Jinhua wine, and drank with Liu Niang first. Then he went to the front shop to drink with Fu Ershu, Ben Si, Jiefu, Daian, Lai Xing, and others, and drank until my father came back before dispersing." Jinlian said, "He didn't let you eat anything?" Ping'an said, "He expected me to eat? How audacious! He didn't care about my mother at all! It's not that I shouldn't be saying this, but Dad spoils him rotten. Dad is also doing those dirty things with him in the study. Besides, he used to be a servant in the county, so he knows everything. If Dad doesn’t get rid of that kid soon, our whole family is going to be in trouble!" Jinlian asked, "How long did he drink in your Liu Niang's room?" Ping'an said, "He drank all day. I saw him come out with a red face." Jinlian said, "Did your dad say anything when he got back?" Ping'an said, "Dad was drunk too; what could he say!" Jinlian cursed, "What a shameless tyrant and thief! Selling sons and chasing after daughters—it’s a complete mess!" She instructed Ping'an, "When he does those dirty things with that boy again, come and tell me." Ping'an said, "Mother, I understand. As long as you know in your heart, don't let me say it out." Then he followed the sedan chair all the way to the doorstep.
After Pan Jinlian got off the sedan chair, she first went to the backyard to greet Yue Niang. Yue Niang said, "Why are you in such a rush to leave after just one night?" Jinlian replied, "My mother wants me to stay. She has invited a twelve-year-old girl to live at home, and we are all squeezed onto one kang (a traditional heated bed); who can sleep like that! Besides, I'm worried it won't be convenient to talk through the doors and windows, so I decided to come here instead. My mother wanted me to express her gratitude for your generous gift." After visiting Yue Niang, she went to pay her respects to Li Jiao'er and Meng Yulou. Upon returning to the front yard, she heard that Ximen Qing was talking in Li Ping'er’s room, so she went to pay her respects to Li Ping'er. When Li Ping'er saw her enter, she quickly rose, smiling warmly as she welcomed her inside, saying, "Sister, you came so early, please sit down and have a drink." She called out to Yingchun: "Quick, get a seat for Wu Niang." Jinlian said, "I've already had quite a bit to drink today and have eaten at two banquets already, so I won't sit." After saying that, she left. Ximen Qing said, "What a bold servant, not even bothering to greet me when she gets home!" Jinlian replied, "Greet you? I don't have that fortune! I'm not bold; who is bold!" Readers, listen to me: Pan Jinlian's words are clearly a jab at Li Ping'er, saying she first drank with the boy servant and then accompanied Ximen Qing; isn't that like having two banquets? Of course, Ximen Qing didn't understand. It is indeed: Words can be like needles and threads, stirring up trouble right then and there.
